Must (from the Latin
vinum mustum, "young wine") is freshly
pressed fruit juice (usually
grape juice) that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The solid portion of the must is called
pomace; it typically makes up 7–23% of the total weight of the must. Making must is the first step in winemaking. Because of its high
glucose content, typically between 10 and 15%, must is also used as a sweetener in a variety of cuisines. Unlike commercially sold grape juice, which is filtered and pasteurized, must is thick with particulate matter, opaque, and comes in various shades of brown and/or purple.